Athletic Identity of Community College Student Athletes: Issues for Counseling

Abstract

Community college student athletes are unique in their setting in the world of college student athletes. Many compete for the love of their sport, while others have aspirations for transferring to major colleges to continue their participation. The current study made use of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale with a sample of nearly 400 community college student athletes to begin to understand some of the unique counseling needs of these students. These needs are highlighted by the need for student athletes to have a mentally healthy perspective on the role of sport in life and the relationship of sports to academic pursuits. Community college administrators need to use caution in balancing student development with mental health concerns.